Carney...

The air around him was thick in his childhood scents; Grilled sausages, sweat, cotton candy ,old grease and funnel cakes. Nothing special about each one, but when in a certain combination they made him smile. It was the Feast of our Sacred Lady. It has been going on for over 100 years and for the last 30 he has been here. The food ,friends and of course the girls have always been a draw.
Times change and friends drift apart. This is the first time to the Feast without friends for Ricardo. A quick visit inside the Church to light a candle and to drop off an envelope for the poor. Just as quickly he's out the door before the priest can see him. Back on to the walk. Games on both sides with barkers calling out to the crowd. "3 rings for a dollar". "Step on up and try your luck..." "Pick a color pick a color pick a color." Ricardo smiles as he walks by nodding and remembering on how much money he lost here as a kid. "Three balls for a buck" she yells at him through a dark smile. Her eyes locked on him as if he were prey. "All you have to do is knock down all the milk bottles and you win." The bottles stand on a small table on the back on the trailer. "What do I get if I win?" He asks in his best bravado as he walk up to the game. "Well sir if you win you win a doll on this wall. Winn twice an the prize gets bigger." She says with a smile towards Ricardo.
"What happens when I win three times?" He smiles back.
"Wow thats balzy. No one has done that before." She scoffs
"How about if I win three times you buy me a beer? That sound fair?" He says while fishing for a single.
"How do I know your not a creep?"
"You don't. I'm taking a chance arn't all carneys well armed."
She takes his dollar and hands him three well worn baseballs. "Smart ass, Here good luck"
Ricardo pauses and takes careful aim at his target. Swoosh ... The bottles scatter in all directions.
The second pitch strikes the target as good as the first. Molly grits her teeth as she sets up Ricardos last round.
The wind up and the pitch, the he feels it. A hand across his shoulder "Excuse me Ricardo?" The ball clips one bottle causing it to turn and spin.
Molly laughs slightly at his last pitch.
The priest face moves in to a wide smile before speaking. "Ricardo again many many thanks for the Help with the vendors.Molly have you met Mr Ricardo? Molly was on the planning board for this years feast."

"Thank you Father, as always its my pleasure to help the Church. Molly and I met about 2 minutes ago and with that last pitch I think I owe her a beer.I thought she was too cute to be a carney."
"Then I won't keep you. Molly Ill stay at the booth you two have a beer and a sausage." Father Silvester waves them off as he climbs in to the milk bottle booth.
Molly look at Ricardo from feet to face and pauses. "Your Ricardo the man who kept ducking me and only answered in emails or via fax proposals?" she snaps in one quick sentence.
Ricardo smiles his devils smile. Pauses and in a slow deliberate tone."I couldn't beautiful women distract me. 2 Blue moons please."

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The beers go down rather quickly in the heat of the night. Molly walks Ricardo around the Feast to show him what his work crew had done in the last week. Structures put up , stages built for the Holy statues. All for free and with out question.
"Hey can I pry? I mean I don't want to look a gift horse in the mouth, but why for free? Is it just a write off?"
Ricardo breaks in to a smile and exhales. "Ok I'll tell you. If you go for a ride with me on the Zipper."
The sounds of country fried rock can be heard all over the carnival. Frankenstein, Free bird and Sweet Home Alabama. Neon off the ride glows in the sky.
"Your kidding , right? These things are held together with twist ties. I'm not going that."
In one final swing of beer he eyes her tight shirt and smirks." I'll hold your hand."
Ricardo hold his hand out for Molly to take. "I'll protect you."

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He's built, owns his own company, He's hot and he's hot. What am I doing? How did my hand get in to his? His hands are so strong and big. I hate rides. I hate this ride.

The Zipper has rolled them round and round until they were both dizzy from laughter and fright. The sounds of Alabama and Led Zepplin poured out of the speakers on either side of the ride. She could hear the Carney barker "Fasterrrrrr fasterrrrrrrrrrr now backwards!!!!" . The metal of the cage seamed to groan with every flip and turn. All the while he held her hand. Never once removing it. The ride ended and Ricardo helped her out of the seats and continued to hold her hand until she was fine to walk. Molly noticed that he was watching her. Sideways glances and looks that were slightly longer than they needed to be. "He's checking me out." She thought to her self. "My god even dressed like this and he's still looking at me...." . She led him by hand to the beer counter and quickly ordered two Blue Moons. As always hers had an extra orange slice.

Molly took a long sip and paused. "This neighbor hood owes you. All the labor and booths that you built for the Church for free. The money that comes in is going to really help the kids. " She noticed that his face flushed as she spoke. She smiled at the modesty that he had. " Its been a long time since the feast of Our Lady had this type of draw and fun feel to it. No thugs no bad vibes."

"How did the Father finagle you to work the game booths? I thought you were just a desk jockey with all the fax-es and emails you kept sending me at my office. I have expected some middle aged lady with canckles not a ......." He caught him self before the beers got him in to trouble. Quickly he took a drink of his beer as if to change the subject. Molly gently pulled the glass away from Ricardos face. With a smile she said "not a what? , Ricardo? Tell me."

"I did not expect such a beautiful woman. A real hottie that was smart, fun and funny. There I said it."

He drew her in to his arms and gave her a kiss on the cheek. She turned her face and kissed him on the lips. She could feel the strength in his hands as he held her. She could smell his sweat and the Polo Blue he was wearing. She could taste his lips as he kissed her back. There was no hesitation in his movements he knew what he wanted. By the feel of it her wanted her. The sounds of the carnival came back in to focus as she pulled away. Quickly she brought her beer to her face to hide her blushing.







more to follow....